Louis Albert Church, 43

Louis Albert Church, 43, passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at his home, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous 12-year battle beginning with leukemia and the resulting immunosuppression from his bone-marrow transplant.

Louie was born Feb. 13, 1964, in Midland, Mich., to Thomas and Mary Jane (Hartman) Church. He moved to Montana at age 5, went to grade school in Martin City and graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1982. After graduation, he went to the Merchant Marine Academy and on to six years with the U.S. Navy where he traveled the world aboard the USS Ranger. After leaving the Navy, he went to work for Western Area Power Administration in California and Arizona. He then went to work for Bonneville Power Administration as an electrician and technical services consultant for a total of 17 years.

Louie married his best friend, Suzanne Brimhall, on June 20, 1987, at his grandmother's cherry orchard on Flathead Lake.

Louie grew up loving to hunt and fish in the woods of Montana. He realized his dream of moving back to the Flathead Valley to raise and watch his children grow. His greatest joy was spending time with his friends and family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Suzanne; his three children, Lori, Emily, and Daniel, of Columbia Falls; his mother, Mary Jane Church; his sisters, Carma and John Johnson and Cathy and Mike Nash; his nieces and nephews, Brandi and Chris Sinerius and their son, Jacob, Bill Johnson, Tommy Church and Shelby Nash.

He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Church, of Martin City; grandparents, Fred and Orra Mae Hartman, and Albert and Sarah Church.

A memorial service will be held on Abbott Creek this summer where Louie grew up and spent his childhood.

Arrangements are with the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.